Karnataka: Amid row, state rules out formalin in fish

Fisheries department says random tests did not find any chemicals in fish

Despite a raging controversy over formalin, a chemical being used to preserve fish, which led to a showdown between Karnataka and Goa, the Department of Fisheries has maintained that no case has been reported in the state so far.

Dr Sushmitha Rao, Assistant Director, Fisheries Department, told BM: “In Dakshina Kannada, formalin scare began during monsoon and that’s when there is a ban on fishing. It’s also fish comes to Mangaluru from other states. Initially, reports said fish, laced with formalin, was detected in Kerala. Since there was a lot of hue and cry over the issue, the department got kits from the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi. Random samples were tested, but we did not find any cases of fish laced with formalin.”

Recently, the Goa government has banned import of fish into the state for six months. The Goa government is expected to set up a lab for testing.

Minister UT Khader said a meeting in this regard will soon be held with the Goa government. Upping the ante, fishermen in Karwar blocked fish-laden trucks to Kerala at the Goa-Karnataka border.
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“In Karnataka, fish is transported in trucks loaded with ice. There have been no instances of fishermen using formalin. Most of the fish catch is sent to multiple locations immediately. There could be chances of formalin being used for fish that comes from long distances and needs more storage time. But locally the chance of using formalin is minimal. When we received the kits from CIFT, since a fishing ban was in place, we randomly tested fish in trucks that had arrived from different places. Health department too was part of the process.”

In June, a video at a fish market, suspected to be from one of the markets in Dakshina Kannada district, had gone viral. A person was seen asking fish vendors if they laced chemicals and who was supplying them fish. He also asked vendors to pack fish for him so that he could test the same at the labs.

The ban means loss for both Karnataka and Goa.

In Karnataka, fish is transported in trucks loaded with ice. There have been no instances of fishermen using formalin. Health dept too was part of the tests using kits­

–Dr Sushmitha Rao, Fisheries Department

“It depends on the type of fish. Pink Perch may come from Goa. From Karnataka, squids and mackerel may go to Goa. In case, there is a disruption in transportation service, it’s a loss for both states as fish is a perishable item. There could be instances where traders could have entered into an agreement for expensive fish. A sudden ban could mean huge loss. Fish transportation depends on the demand, kind of fish and processing plant,” she said.

Early this year, Kerala State Food Safety wing officials, during an inspection, seized 6,000 kg of fish preserved using formalin (formaldehyde) at the inter-state border check-post at Walayar in Palakkad. It has been reported that theprawn/shrimp which was seized was brought from Andhra Pradesh and preliminary examination conducted by CIFT, using rapid detection strip tests, revealed the presence of formalin in fish. The inspections were conducted as part of ‘Operation Sagar Rani‘, launched by the Food Safety department last year to ensure the safety of fish sold in the market. Prices of a staple kingfish, which normally costs Rs 500 per kg had shot up to Rs 900 per kg.

The Goa government Saturday announced a ban on import of fish into the state for six months. The move comes against the backdrop of reports in the coastal state that formalin (a dangerous chemical) was being used to preserved fish.